Killer of at-risk gulls sentenced

He drove over nine gulls, leaving eight dead and one seriously injured which had to be euthanased. Children and tourists found the birds the next morning.

After media reports, Baillie contacted police and DOC to hand himself in. He said he had tried to scare the gulls away by tooting his horn while inching the car forward, and felt a few bumps but did not stop to check.

He was charged with hunting or killing absolutely protected wildlife in breach of the Wildlife Act 1953, which he admitted at the Blenheim District Court on October 24.

Baillie returned to court on Wednesday and was convicted and sentenced to three months’ community detention, with a curfew between 9pm and 6pm.

Tara¯punga, or the red-billed gull, was a taonga (treasured) species for Nga¯ i Tahu, including Te Ru¯ nanga o Kaiko¯ ura.

DOC south Marlborough operations manager Phil Bradfield said the conviction was a reminder the tara¯ punga, or redbilled gull, was a protected native species and DOC viewed harming them seriously.

‘‘Red-billed gulls are commonly seen in coastal areas but their numbers nationally are declining at an alarming rate. The species currently has a conservation status of ‘at-risk: declining’,’’ Bradfield said.

‘‘Kaiko¯ura historically is a stronghold for red-billed gulls with the species’ largest South Island breeding colony on Kaiko¯ura’s coastal cliffs. The gulls’ breeding success and the size of the colony have decreased markedly over the past 20 years and the population is in serious trouble.’’

DOC had tried to replicate Baillie’s explanation about tooting the horn unsuccessfully, but the gulls immediately flew away, he said.